Closure member



Jan- 22, 1952 N. zEPELovrrcI-l CLOSURE MEMBER Filed May l, 1950 lll/luv L Patented Jan. 22, 1952 cLosURE MEMBER Nathan Zepelovitch, New York, N. Y., assignor to Nahum A; Bernstein, New York, N. Y.

Application May 1, 1950, Serial No. 159,270

6 Claims.

This invention relatesV to closure members and "i particularly to a simple and eicient hermetically sealing closure member for containers, such as jars and bottles.

Conventional closure members for jars and bottles are usually restricted to use with a bottle or container of particular dimensions and are seldom adaptable for use with containers of differing dimensions. Some of the conventional closure members are relatively difficult to remove from the container mouth, particularly those of the screw-on type which are limited to use with a container of definite dimensions and thread contours and oftentimes become bonded to the container through solidified deposits of the material contained thereinparticul'arly Where the contained material is of a sugary nature. Although this type of closure member may be reused, the occasional diiculties of removal, together with its limitations as to container dimensions, are objectionable. Another common type of closure member is that which is crimped on the container mouth, or deformed into sealing engagement with the container or bottle, such as the conventional bottle cap for carbonated beverages. Although this type of closure member provides an adequate seal, `it is diiiicult to remove, requiring the use of a special tool, and onceV removed it seldom, if ever, may be used again for sealing purposes. This type of cap is also limited to use with containers and bottles of particular mouth dimensions.

This invention may be briefly described as a simple internally gripping closure member adapted for use with containers of varying diimensions and mouth congurations that may be easily placed into and removed from hermetic sealing relationshipin a simple and efiicient manner. The closure member includes a supporting structure carrying a deformable sealing membrane and having `a pair of angularly disposed extendible retaining arms, adapted for internal gripping of the container, passing through and attached to said membrane. The closure member is adapted to be placed into operative her-A metically sealing relationship with the mouth of a container or bottle by manual depression of the retaining arms, against the restoring action of the membrane, into retaining, position which is maintained by a frictional gripping of the retaining armsA by the supporting structure. The closureV member is adapted to` he easily removed from hermetic sealing relationship by manual depression of` a portion of the supporting structure.

Among the advantages of the improved clo- 2 sure member is that removal of the container' does not require any turning or prying, and the insertion and' removal of the closure member into" and from hermetic sealing relationship is accomplished in a rapid, simple and eilic'ient manneri The closure member also provides a sealing surface of relatively large magnitude and is readily proportioned for use with such varied shaped containers such as narrow necked carbonated beverage bottles and wide mouthed mason type jars. A

An object of this invention is the provision of an improved hermetically sealing closure member for containers and bottles.

Another object of this invention is the provision" ofA an improved closure member that may be used with containers and bottles of varymgdimensions'and mouth configurations.

Another object of this invention is the provision of an improved closure member that may be repeatedly reused for hermetic sealing purposes.

Another object of thisinvention is' the provision of an improved closure member that may be easily and simply inserted into and removed fromA hermetic sealing relationshipv with a container or bottle mouth.` A A further object of this inventionisthe-provision of al closurev member that is simple and inexpensive in construction,

Other objects and advantages of the invention will be pointedout in the following disclosure and claims and illustrated inthe accompanying drawings: which disclose, by Way of example, the

, principle of the invention and the presently preferred embodiments of the closure memberapplying that principle. i

Referring to the drawings: Fig. 1 is a plan view of the closure member; Fig. 2 is a sectional view on the line 2-2 `of Fig. 1: f

Figs. 3 and 4- are sectional views illustrating the positioning' of various elements during insertion in a container;

Figs; 5 and 6 are sectional views illustrating the embodiment of the closure member adapted for use with relatively long necked bottles;

Figs. 7 and 8 are sectional views of a closure member adapted for use with wide mouthed jars; and

Fig. 9 is a sectional view of a modified closure member.

Referring to thejdrawi'ngs and' particularly to the general utility embodiment illustrated inY Figs 1 through' 4, there is provided a supporting struc- Angularly disposed within the plug I6Y are a pair of bores 20 and 22. The bores 20 and 22 are positioned so that they are relativelyV closely positioned on the upper surface of` the plug i6 and relatively far apart on the lower ysurface of the plug I6. Slidably contained within the bores and 22 are a pair of elongated retaining arms 2,4and 26, respectively. The upper portions of the arms `24 and 25 are bent to provide horizontal portions-'28 and 36 and suitable recesses 32 and 34V are provided on the'upper surfaceof the plug I6 ,toY accommodate the bent portions 26 and 3!! upon maximum depression of said retaining arms 24 and 26. `*The lower portions of the retaining arms 24 and 26 extend through the sealing membrane I4 and are hermetically attached thereto at the points of 'passage 36 and 38;

Fig. 3 illustrates the positioning of the closure member in theY mouth of a container 44 having a body portion 46 and a narrower neck portion 48. With the closure member placed` in the mounth of thecontainer 44, the elastic membrane I4rests on the upper surface of the mouth ofth container vas illustrated in the figure.

With the parts positioned as illustrated in Fig. 3, a manual downward depression ofthe horizontal portions 28 and 30 results in a depression of the 'retaining arms 24 and 25 within the bores 20 and 22 and independent of the plug I6. `TheA downward movement of the retaining arms 24 and 26 overcomes the restoring action ofthe membrane lI4 which is deformed 'thereby'.` The depression of the angularly disposed retaining arms.Y

24 and 26 Y causes the ends thereof" positioned within the container 44 tomove downwardlyV and outwardly until they come into contact with the sides of the container neck 48 as illustrated in Fig. 3'. Whenthe ends of the retaining arms '24 and 26 engage the sides of the container neck 48, thel'downward and outward movement of the retaining arms 24 and 26 independent of said plug I6 is halted. Y

With the ends of the retaining armsV 24 and 26 in contact with the side walls of the container neck 48, a further downward depression of said arms 24 and 26 results inv a'downward displacement of the plug I6 together with the downward displacement of the arms 24 and 26. The downward displacement' of the plug I6, together with the retaining arms 24 and 26 then continues, `against the restoring action of the membrane I4, until the ends of the said retaining arms 24 and26 pass the end of the relatively narrowneck portion 48 of the container 44.

When the ends of the retaining arms 24 and 26 pass the end of the neck portion 48 there is no obstacle to their outward movement and a further downward depression of said retaining arms results in a further downward and outward movement thereof independent of the plug i6.

Due to the angulardispositionof the retaining arms ,'24 and 26 inthe plug I6, theends thereof disposed within the container 44 descend into the wider body portion 46 until the bent portions 28 and 39 are disposed within the recesses 32 and 34 on the upper surface of the plug I6.

When the retaining arms 24 and 26 are in the retaining position as illustrated in Fig. 4, the elastic membrane I4 is deformed as shown in the figure. The pressure on the ends of the retaining arms 24 and 26 at the 4point of contact thereof with the walls of the container through the leverage obtained from the extent of said retaining arms creates a strong frictional engagement between the surfaces of said arms 24 and 26 and the surfaces of the bores 20 and 22. This frictional `engagement aided in some measure by the restoring action of the elastic membrane I4 arrests any upward movement of the retaining arms 24 and 26 and the closure member is thus viirmly secured in the mounth of the container.

The membrane I4 being maintained in the deformed condition andpositioned as illustrated in Fig. 4, hermetically seals the mouth of' the container, a sealing surface being obtained on the upper surface thereof and the vvertical surface immediately adjacent thereto. The extent of the sealing surface is thus greater than thatobtainable in conventional closure members. The closure member is easily removed fro retaining position inthe container mouth by a I slight manual depression of the plug I6. The

manual depression of the plug I6 causes the retaining arms v24 and 26 contained within the angularly disposed bores 20 and 22 to move downwardly therewith. The downward movement of the retaining arms 24 and 26, together with the with a cylindrical plug 58 slidably disposed thereplug I6 relieves the pressure on the 'ends of the said retaining arms and the frictional engagement between said arms and said bores 26 and 22 is broken. When the frictional gripping engagement is broken, the deformed elastic membrane I4, which is secured to said retaining arms 24 and 26 at the points of passage 36 and 3B, restores the retaining arms 24 and26 to the position illustrated in Fig. 2. A release of the manual down-V The above described-closure member is notr limited to use with a specifically sized container, as the size of the annular plate I0 may be made relatively large, permitting the use of the closure member with containers of varying mouth dimensions within predetermined limits governed by the size of said annular plate.

Figs. 5 and 6 illustrate a closure member constructed in accordance with the principles set forth above and adapted for use with bottles having relatively long necks, such as conventional carbonated beverage bottles. The elements making up this embodiment of the closure member are similar in construction and function to the embodiment illustrated in Figs. 1 through 4 and described above, and differ only in proportion asV required by the diflerent shape container with in. Peripherally secured to the annular plateV 54 and extending around the plug 58 is a deformable elastic sealing membrane 60. o

Angularly disposed within the plug 58 are a, vpairof bores 62 and 64. In this embodiment the bores are disposed side by side and are substanthereof'. Fig. 6 illustrates the positioningof the closure member in retaining position in said bottle B42 The operation of the closure member is' similar to that for the embodiment described above with respect to Figs. 1 through il Figs. 7 and 8 illustrate` a closure member constructed in accordance with the principles set forth above and adapted particularly for use with wide mouth containers" with varying month dimensions..

There is provided a supporting structure including an annular` plate 9.0 haring a centrally disposed bore 92 with a cylindrical plug 94 slidably disposed therein. Peripherally secured to the plug I! and to the plate 90 is an annular deformable sealing membrane 96. Horizontally disposed within the plug 94 are a pair of bores 90 and |00. Slidably contained Within the bores 98 and |00 are a pair of elongated retaining arms |02 and |04 having substantially vertically disposed portions |06 and |08 extending upwardly through suitable channels in the plug 94. The ends ||0 and ||2 of the retaining arms adapted to be disposed within a container are angularly disposed with respect to the horizontal portions |02 and |04. The horizontal portions |02 and |04 extend through an auxiliary deformable sealing membrane ||4 and are hermetically attached thereto at the points of passage adjacent the end portions I I0 and I |2.

With the parts positioned as illustrated in Fig. 7, movement of the vertically disposed retaining arm portions |06 and |08 towards each other results in an outward displacement of the bent end portions ||0 and ||2 against the restoring action of the membrane I4. The outward movement of the bent portions ||0 and H2 continues until said portions reach the arcuate portions I5 of the side walls of a container I I 6 having a relatively wide mouth. At which time a further movement of the portions |06 and |08 toward each other results in a downward depression of the plug 0d against; the restoring action of the membrane 90. With the parts positioned as illustrated in Fig. 8, a tight frictional grip is provided between the horizontal portions of the retaining arms |02, |04 and the bores 08 and |00, as described above with respect to Figs. l through 6. This embodiment is readily removed from the container mouth by a slight manual depression of the plug 94. Breaking the frictional grip enables the deformed membrane II4 to restore the retaining arms to the position illustrated in Fig. 7.

Fig. 9 illustrates a modication of the embodiment of the invention illustrated in Figs. l through 4 in which one of the retaining arms I I0 is xedly mounted in the plug |20 contained within the bore |22 of the annular plate I 2d. The other retaining arm |26 is slidably disposed within av bore within said plug |20, as described above in connection with the embodiment illustrated in Figs. 1 through 4.

Another modication illustrated in Fig. 9 is a provision of an auxiliary sealing membrane |30 in addition toV the =conventional membrane |32 which is connected between the plug |20 and the annular plate- |24'. The operationI of this embodiment of theY invention is `similar to that described abovein conjunction with Figs. 1 through i and need not beV repeated at this point except to note that only one of the retaining arms is manually depressable. f

Having thu-s described my invention, I claim:

i. A closure member for a container having a body portion and a narrow neck portion, including; a supporting structurecarrying a deformable seal-ing membrane, a pair of retaining arms guided by bores within said supporting structure and passing through and attached` to said membrane, said. retaining arms being manually displaceable internally of said container against the restoring action oi said membrane, said bores guiding said retaining `arms upon displacement thereof into closure-retaining position, said retaining arms being irictionally gripped within said bores in closure-retaining position` and releasable from retaining pcsition by manual depression of said supporting structure.

2. A closure member for a container having a narrow neck portion, including, a supporting structure carrying a deformable sealing membrane, a pair of retaining arms guided by angularly disposed bores within said supporting structure and passing through and attached to said membrane, said retaining arms being manually depressable against the restoring action of said membrane, said angularly disposed bores guiding said retaining arms upon manual depression thereof into closure-retaining position, said retaining arms being frictionally gripped within said bores in closure-retaining position and releasable from retaining position by manual depression of said supporting structure.

3. A closure for a container having a narrow neck portion, including, a supporting structure carrying a deformable sealing membrane, a pair of angularly disposed retaining arms slidably contained within said supporting structure and passing through and attached to said membrane, said retaining arms being manually depressable against the restoring action of said membrane, said retaining arms upon depression thereof past the neck portion of said container being extendible into closure-retaining position, said retaining arms in closure-retaining position being frictionally gripped Within said supporting structure in closure-retaining position and releasable from retaining position by manual depression of said supporting structure.

4. A closure for a container having a narrow neck portion, including, a supporting structure carrying a deformable sealing membrane, at least one retaining arm guide by an angularly disposed bore within said supporting structure and passing through and attached to said membrane, said retaining arm being manually depressable against the restoring action of said membrane, said angularly disposed bore guiding said retaining arm upon manual depression thereof into closure-retaining position, said retaining arm` being frictionally gripped within said bore in closure-retaining position and releasable `from retaining position by manual depression of said supporting structure.

5. A closure for a container having a body portion and a narrow neck portion, comprising. an annular plate having a central bore, a plug axially displaceable Within said bore, an elastic membrane secured adjacent to the periphery of said plate, a pair of retaining arms guided by inclined bores within said plug and passing through and attached to said membrane, said retaining arms being manually depressable against the restoring action of the elastic membrane, said inclined bores guiding said retaining arms upon manual depression thereof into contact with the walls of the container neck, said retaining arms upon further depression thereof being adapted to .depress the plug until the inner ends of the retainingV arms pass the neck portion of the container, whereupon the retaining arms are further depressed independent of said plug into closureretaining position, said extended retaining arms being frictionally gripped Within said bores in retaining position and being releasable from retaining position by manual depression of said plug.

6. A closure for a container having a body portion and a narrow neck portion, an annular plate having a central bore, a plug axially displaceable within said bore, an elastic membrane secured adjacent to the periphery of said plate, an angularly disposed retaining armrmounted in said plug and passing through said membrane, an angularly disposed retaining arm guided by an inclined bore within said plug and passing through and attached to said membrane, said last mentioned retaining arm being manually depressable independent of said plug against the restoring action of said membrane, said inclined bore guiding said last mentioned retaining arm upon initial manual depression thereof into contact with the Walls of the container neck, said last mentioned retaining arm upon further depression thereof being adapted to depress the plug until the inner end of said retaining arm is depressed past the neck portion of the container, said last mentioned retaining arm upon further depression thereof adapted for movement independent of said plug into closure-retaining position, said last-mentioned retaining arm in closure position being frictionallygripped within said bore and releasable from retaining position by manual depression of said plug.

NATHAN ZEPELOVITCH.

No references cited. 

